Community Behavior Policy

The Pathfinder Society (PFS) and Starfinder Society (SFS) are inclusive social events open to everyone. It is our intention that everybody enjoys gaming in a safe and fun environment. While conflict between characters may arise, at no time should a player feel excluded or threatened at the table. We ask all participants to respect their fellow players and to work together to create positive memorable experiences. To this end, we reserve the right to refuse participation to any person for inappropriate or illegal conduct. All refusals of participation must be accompanied by a reason, duration of refusal, and the criteria for rejoining PFS or SFS activities.

Complaints under this policy should be brought to the Event Organizer or a Venture-Officer, who will work to resolve the issue or escalate the issue to the next level of Venture-Officer. As an alternative, issues may be reported to the Organized Play Manager (OPM) via email at organizedplay@paizo.com. Issues will be resolved at the lowest level possible. In case of escalation, the OPM is the final arbiter of any dispute arising from application of this policy.

Nothing in this policy is intended to discourage any person from calling the police or other appropriate organizations. Event organizers or Venture-Officers are available to help participants contact local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance.

While not illegal or even necessarily inappropriate, we recognize that the Pathfinder Society and Starfinder Society organized play campaigns include themes that may result in uncomfortable situations arising at the gaming table. In these instances, we request players identify the issue to the table Game Master (GM), whether vocally or by passing a note. We ask that GMs help the table respect attendees' sensibilities and reduce/redirect problematic themes once identified. Participants asked to stop any problematic behavior are expected to comply immediately or will be asked to leave the table.

It is our intention that everybody participating in Pathfinder Society or Starfinder Society organized play enjoys gaming in a safe and fun environment. While conflict between characters may arise, at no time should a player feel excluded or threatened at the table. We ask all participants to respect their fellow players and to work together to create positive memorable experiences. Once again, the intention of PFS org play is to provide a safe and fun environment. The above guidelines reference how we may achieve our goals. By sitting at a PFS or SFS table, participants are agreeing to the terms and conditions of Pathfinder Society and Starfinder Society organized play.

Event Support Policy

An organized play program aimed at providing incentive rewards to players and GMs at Pathfinder Society and Starfinder Society events worldwide.

Perceived Need

Traditionally, convention attendees receive some rewards for traveling to the convention and participating in organized play. Over the years, forum feedback has indicated many players cannot travel to a convention, but would like rewards for playing the game. This policy aims to address the distribution method for support while continuing the high level of Paizo support for Pathfinder Society and Starfinder Society events.

Plan

Use a three-pronged approach to meeting the reward dispersal needs of the community—Convention Support, Retail Convention Support, and Regional Support Packages.

Qualifying Events

This program is open to all events running Pathfinder Society and Starfinder Society organized play content. The category of support depends on which criteria the event fulfills.

Evaluation Period

This policy begins with second quarter of 2016 and runs for six months, representing two cycles of the Regional Support Package program. Evaluation of the program will occur in August and the organized play team will publish the results before the third quarter application process begins.

Terminology

The categories of support listed below are for internal classification of Paizo support and do not indicate naming criteria for events. Events may name themselves as they like to personalize

Charity Status

Any event may qualify for charity status, provided they complete the charity section on the Event Support Request Form and the charity is a non-political, religious, or sectarian public entity.

Convention Support

Criteria: The event must run 15+ sessions run within a period of 3 days in a non-retail, public location. The event must register on paizo.com and advertise online.

Submission Method: Complete the Support Request Form and email it to the Organized Play Manager no later than 4 weeks before the event.

Selection Method: All events that meet the criteria and are submitted on time will receive support. Submissions received after the deadline will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Rewards: All GMs receive their scheduled scenarios for free as PDFs added to their paizo.com account. Events also receive a package of player boons, GM boon(s), and gift certificates to paizo.com based on the size of the event. Gift certificates and player boons need to be distributed in an egalitarian, unbiased manner, with all attendees having a chance to win. GM boons are intended for those individuals who GM at least one session.

Timeline: Submissions received by the due date will have scenarios granted to GMs at least 2 weeks before the event date and reward packages sent to event organizers no later than one week out.

Venture-Officer Involvement: Venture-Captains should be aware of the event and submit paperwork to the OPM, though officers can delegate this processes as needed. The event counts towards fulfilling Venture-Officer convention lead requirements.

Other Requirements: The event organizer needs to submit a post-event summary of the event, including number of sessions broken out by campaign, number of attendees, number of new organized play numbers issued, boon dispersal methods, and any other information that would assist in planning the next event. This summary should be sent to the local VC no later than 1 month after the event. Not submitting an event summary may lead to withdrawal of future support.

Retail Convention Support

Functions as Convention Support with the following changes:

Criteria: This operates as standard conventions, except retail locations are also valid

Rewards: This operates as a standard convention, except no gift certificate support.

Regional Support Program

Program Goals: Encourage growth and support events that don't qualify for Paizo convention support.

Qualifying Location: Any location with an associated venture-officer of any rank, from agent to regional coordinator.

Qualifying Event: Any public event at a qualifying location.

Pathfinder Society Program Dates: Yearly, starting in February and ending January 31 of the following year (effective 2017 dates are February 13 to January 31, 2018).

Starfinder Society Program Dates: September 8, 2017 to January 31, 2019.

Administration: Allocated by the Regional Venture-Coordinators.

Event Submission Process

Venture-officer (VO) plans an event, either one off or reoccurring, for their location.

VO completes a Support Request Form, noting which organized play programs running, and sends to their Regional Venture-Coordinator (RVC) to indicate interest.

RVC confirms VO status and confers with VO about implementing the program.

RVC adds event to the regional support tracker.

RVC sends a regional support package to VO. Package includes GM tracking cards, player boons, and a tiered GM boon.

VO advertises event as Regional Support Program qualified.

VO runs event(s) and provides rewards as applicable

VO reports on event statistics to RVC.

RVC inputs data on regional support tracker.

OPM reviews data and revises program as necessary.

Rewards

Players have a 10% chance per game played at an event to win a boon, which is the same rate as a player at a convention. VOs will determine the method of boon distribution for their venue, after consulting with their RVC. Some suggested methods include rolling a 19-20 on a d20, earning a token each game played with each token increasing the likelihood of receiving a boon, or entries into a raffle.

GMs earn a race boon with different levels of reward. If a GM runs 6 games at qualifying events, they earn Reward A. If they GM 12 games at qualifying locations during the program period, they earn Reward B. If they GM 24 games at qualifying events over the course of the program period, they earn Reward C.

Retail Incentive Programs

Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild

This program is designed to encourage players to reward retail locations that are providing space for Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild players. Locations utilizing the program should advertise its presence to their clientele. We realize that each location is unique, and has an overriding right to determine what is best for their business, so participation in this program is not mandatory. In cases where the specifics of the program don't align well with the retail's procedures (for example, if they don't provide receipts, or they run daily tabs), the event coordinator should work with the retailer to best approximate the intent of the policy.

Game stores and other retail locations are an important part of the Pathfinder Society community, and it's important to support them so that they continue to provide support for Pathfinder Society play. Under this program, players can redeem receipts in exchange for modest benefits for the entire party.

Redeeming a receipt simply involves showing it to the event coordinator, who marks the receipt to denote that it was used. A player can only use a receipt in this way on the day of the purchase, and only for an event at that venue. The receipt need not include Paizo products—any products the venue sells count as qualifying purchases. Players cannot acquire or redeem receipts during their own turn or during any player's encounter; otherwise, players can acquire and redeem receipts during play only when doing so does not significantly disrupt gameplay.

If the combined value of the receipts redeemed by players at the table exceeds $10, all of the characters at the table receive the ongoing benefit described below, and each character chooses one of the single-use benefits described below. If the combined value exceeds $50, you may use the enhanced version of the applicable benefits instead. (In countries that use currencies other than US Dollars, use approximate equivalents of $10 and $50; don't worry too much about figuring out the exact exchange rate.) The ongoing benefit lasts for up to 5 hours, and each character may use their chosen one-time benefit once in each scenario played during those 5 hours. Characters can only receive these benefits once during any 5-hour block.

Ongoing Benefit (for all characters)

Harder to Kill: Treat the character's Constitution as 5 points higher than normal for the purpose of determining when hit point damage would kill him.Enhanced Version: For the enhanced benefit, treat the character's Constitution as 10 higher.

Single-Use Benefits (each character chooses one)

Cheaper Healing: Before the end of the session, you can use the benefit to reduce the Prestige Point cost of one spellcasting service of the healing subschool by 1 (minimum 0).Enhanced Version: You can instead reduce the cost by 2.

Recover from Wounds: The PC recovers hit points equal to twice their character level.Enhanced Version: Each PC also recovers 2 points of ability damage to one ability score. This benefit can only be used outside of combat.

Bonus Wealth: If you do not use the subsidized healing benefit above, you can instead choose to roll twice and take the higher result when rolling a Day Job check.Enhanced Version: You also increase the gold you earn from the day Job result by 50% (maximum 300 gp total).

Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild

This program is designed to encourage players to reward retail locations that are providing space for Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild players. Locations utilizing the program should advertise its presence to their clientele. We realize that each location is unique, and has an overriding right to determine what is best for their business, so participation in this program is not mandatory. In cases where the specifics of the program don't align well with the retail's procedures (for example, if they don't provide receipts, or they run daily tabs), the event coordinator should work with the retailer to best approximate the intent of the policy.

Game stores and other retail locations are an important part of the Starfinder Society community, and it's important to support them so that they continue to provide support for Starfinder Society play. Under this program, players can redeem receipts in exchange for modest benefits for the entire party.

Redeeming a receipt simply involves showing it to the event coordinator, who marks the receipt to denote that it was used. A player can only use a receipt in this way on the day of the purchase, and only for an event at that venue. The receipt need not include Paizo products—any products the venue sells count as qualifying purchases. Players cannot acquire or redeem receipts during their own turn or during any player's encounter; otherwise, players can acquire and redeem receipts during play only when doing so does not significantly disrupt gameplay.

If the combined value of the receipts redeemed by players at the table exceeds $10, all of the characters at the table receive the ongoing benefit described below, and each character chooses one of the single-use benefits described below. If the combined value exceeds $50, you may use the enhanced version of the applicable benefits instead. (In countries that use currencies other than US Dollars, use approximate equivalents of $10 and $50; don't worry too much about figuring out the exact exchange rate.) The ongoing benefit lasts for up to 5 hours, and each character may use their chosen one-time benefit once in each scenario played during those 5 hours. Characters can only receive the benefits once during any 5-hour block. No matter how many receipts the players have, the table can never use the same benefit more than once during a game session; they can, however, gain both benefits during a session.

Ongoing Benefit (for all characters)

Harder to Kill: Reduce the number of Resolve Points required to stabilize by 1.Enhanced Version: Reduce the number of Resolve Points required to stabilize by 2.

Single-Use Benefits (each character chooses one)

Cheaper Healing: Before the end of the session, you can use the benefit to reduce the Fame cost of purchases listed on the Basic Purchasing Plan boon* by 1 (minimum 0). Qualifying purchases include dispel magic, lesser restoration, make whole, remove affliction, break enchantment, greater dispel magic, restoration, regenerate, or raise dead.Enhanced Version: Reduce the cost above the cost by 2.*Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide page 27

Recover from Wounds: Anytime you spend a Resolve Point to regain Stamina Points through resting, you can recover 2 points of ability damage.Enhanced Version: Increase the amount of ability damage recovered to 4.

Bonus Wealth: If you do not use the subsidized healing benefits above, you can instead choose to roll twice and take the higher result when rolling a Day Job check.Enhanced Version: You also increase the credits you earn from the Day Job result by 50%. This does not stack with other boons that apply to Day Job checks.

Pathfinder Society Adventure Card Guild

This program is designed to encourage players to reward retail locations that are providing space for Pathfinder Society Adventure Card Guild players. Locations utilizing the program should advertise its presence to their clientele. We realize that each location is unique, and has an overriding right to determine what is best for their business, so participation in this program is not mandatory. In cases where the specifics of the program don't align well with the retail's procedures (for example, if they don't provide receipts, or they run daily tabs), the event coordinator should work with the retailer to best approximate the intent of the policy.

Game stores and other retail locations are an important part of the Pathfinder Society community, and it's important to support them so that they continue to provide support for Pathfinder Society play. Under this program, players can redeem receipts in exchange for modest benefits for the entire party.

Redeeming a receipt simply involves showing it to the event coordinator, who marks the receipt to denote that it was used. A player can only use a receipt in this way on the day of the purchase, and only for an event at that venue. The receipt need not include Paizo products—any products the venue sells count as qualifying purchases. Players cannot acquire or redeem receipts during their own turn or during any player's encounter; otherwise, players can acquire and redeem receipts during play only when doing so does not significantly disrupt gameplay.

If the combined value of the receipts redeemed by players at the table exceeds $10, all of the characters at the table receive the ongoing benefit described below, and each character chooses one of the single-use benefits described below. If the combined value exceeds $50, you may use the enhanced version of the applicable benefits instead. (In countries that use currencies other than US Dollars, use approximate equivalents of $10 and $50; don't worry too much about figuring out the exact exchange rate.) The ongoing benefit lasts for up to 5 hours, and each character may use their chosen one-time benefit once in each scenario played during those 5 hours. Characters can only receive these benefits once during any 5-hour block.

Ongoing Benefit (for all characters)

Harder to Kill: When you reset your hand, you may treat your hand size as 1 lower.Enhanced Version: When you reset your hand, you may treat your hand size as 2 lower.